Bengaluru: The Department of Pre-University (PU) Education has decided to crack down on “dummy” PU colleges that register students officially but fail to conduct regular classes on campus. Officials confirmed that these institutions, which often operate in collaboration with private coaching centres, will soon face notices and possible disciplinary action.

Department initiates action against errant colleges

Bharath S, Director of the Department of PU Education, said that deputy directors in Bengaluru have been directed to issue notices to all colleges found violating operational rules.

“We have asked deputy directors to identify colleges that are not conducting classes on their approved campuses. These colleges will be asked to provide an explanation, and further action will follow based on their responses,” he said.

Such dummy institutions typically register students for official academic purposes but divert them to external coaching centres for competitive exams such as the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

Rise of dummy colleges in Bengaluru

According to the Karnataka Unaided PU College Management Association (KUPMA), there are at least 50 dummy PU colleges in Bengaluru operating under the guise of legitimate institutions.
Devaraj BK, President of KUPMA (Bengaluru unit), explained the two major ways these colleges collaborate with coaching centres:

“One model involves colleges registering students for the Student Achievement Tracking System (SATS) without offering infrastructure or classes. They receive Rs 8,000–10,000 per student. In another setup, students attend the college only for language and practical classes—either once a week or just before exams.”

In these arrangements, the college and the coaching centre typically split the fees in a 70:30 or 60:40 ratio.

Parents speak out on the growing trend

Many parents, though aware of the irregularities, are drawn to such systems due to the intense competition for medical and engineering seats.
A parent from north Bengaluru said,

“I pay Rs 50,000 to the college and Rs 1.5 lakh to the coaching centre. My son visits the PU college twice a week for practicals and spends the rest of his time preparing for NEET. Coaching centres even suggest which dummy colleges to register with.”

Educators call for reform

Educational associations have repeatedly urged the government to dismantle this setup, calling it unethical and detrimental to holistic learning.
Narendra L Nayak, KUPMA secretary, said,

“This practice began when major north Indian coaching institutes expanded into Karnataka. It’s now a full-blown system that undermines classroom education and discipline.”

BN Yogananda, President of the Karnataka Private School and College Parent Association Coordination Committee, described the system as a “big mafia.”

“These PU colleges charge fees without offering education. They don’t maintain safety standards or infrastructure. Coaching centres operate out of commercial complexes. Meanwhile, genuine institutions lose students. We’ve raised this issue for years, but no strict action has been taken.”

Learning from the Rajasthan example

In September 2025, the Rajasthan High Court took a firm stance against dummy schools, directing the state government and educational boards to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The team was tasked with conducting surprise inspections of schools and coaching institutes. If students were found absent from schools while attending coaching classes, accountability measures were to be imposed on both institutions. The court labelled the dummy school system a “blight on education.”

The new route: Open schooling

With pressure mounting on traditional education systems, many students are opting for National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) enrolments to focus solely on competitive exams.
A coaching centre owner explained,

“Around 60% of NEET candidates are repeaters. First-time exam takers can’t keep up with board exams and entrance prep. NIOS allows flexibility since students don’t need to spend fixed hours in school.”

Vijayakumar S, Director of Student Support Services at NIOS, Delhi, confirmed the growing demand for flexible learning.

“Most students who take the exam on demand are preparing for competitive exams. They register and appear within 15 days. Last year, over 31,000 senior secondary and 17,000 secondary-level students took the exam nationally.”

The road ahead

Education experts have warned that while the department’s crackdown is a step in the right direction, stricter regulations and regular inspections are essential to dismantle the dummy college network. Unless effective enforcement is ensured, the collaboration between PU colleges and coaching institutes is likely to continue under new disguises.

The department’s move signals the beginning of long-awaited accountability—but sustained vigilance will be crucial to protect the integrity of Karnataka’s pre-university education system.